Apron with magnetically attached accessories

ABSTRACT

An apron includes a skirt configured to hang down from the waist of a wearer, a resilient spring member secured to the skirt and configured to partly extend about a waist of the wearer to hold the skirt in place at the waist of the wearer, and at least one accessory removably secured to the skirt. The resilient spring member includes a ferromagnetic material and the at least one accessory has a magnet removably secured to the resilient spring member by magnetic attraction. The accessory can be a towel, a potholder and/or the like.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.15/9936,353 filed on Mar. 26, 2018, which claims the priority benefit ofU.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/476,099 filed on Mar. 24,2017, the disclosures of which are expressly incorporated herein intheir entireties by reference.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH

Not Applicable

PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT

Not Applicable

REFERENCE TO APPENDIX

Not Applicable

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The field of the present invention generally relates to protectivecovers for clothing such as aprons and the like and, more particularly,to aprons and the like that can be held in place without tying stringsor straps at the neck and/or waist.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A traditional bib apron has a skirt that hangs down about the waist ofthe wearer and a bib or bodice that extends upward from the waist of thewearer at a front of the wearer. Typically there are strings or strapsextending from the top of the bodice that extend about the neck of thewearer or over the shoulders of the wearer to support and hold thebodice in place covering the front of the upper torso of the wearer.Also, there are typically strings or some other type of fastener at thewaist of the skirt to snugly secure and hold the skirt at the waist sothat the skirt covers at least a portion of the front of the wearerbelow the waist. Tying and untying these strings before and after eachuse of the apron can be cumbersome, and for older wearers, can becomedifficult if not impossible to manipulate.

Accordingly, there is a need for a clothing cover, such as an apron andthe like, that the wearer can easily slip on and off without theaggravation and/or difficulty of tying strings around the waist and/orneck.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Disclosed are clothing covers such as aprons and the like which addressone or more issues of the related art. Disclosed is an apron comprising,in combination, a skirt configured to hang down from the waist of awearer, a resilient spring member secured to the skirt and configured topartly extend about a waist of the wearer to hold the skirt in place atthe waist of the wearer, and at least one accessory removably secured tothe skirt. The at least one accessory has a magnet removably secured tothe resilient spring member by magnetic attraction. The resilient springmember comprises a ferromagnetic material.

Also disclosed is an apron comprising, in combination, a waist bandconfigured to extend partially about a waist of a wearer, a skirtconfigured to hang down from the waist band, a resilient spring membersecured to the waist band and configured to partly extend about thewaist of the wearer to hold the skirt in place at the waist of thewearer, waist band extensions extending from free ends of the waist bandsuch that the waist band extensions overlap when extended about thewaist of the wearer, and cooperating hook and loop fastener segmentssecured to the waist band extensions to removably secure the waist bandextensions about the waist of the wearer. The resilient spring memberdoes not extend along the waist band extensions.

Also disclosed is a towel comprising, in combination, a panel of textileand a pair of pot magnets spaced-apart and secured to the panel oftextile. The pair pot magnets are configured so that the pair of potmagnets magnetically attract to each other.

From the foregoing disclosure and the following more detaileddescription of various preferred embodiments it will be apparent tothose skilled in the art that the present invention provides asignificant advance in the technology and art of clothing covers such asaprons and the like. Particularly significant in this regard is thepotential the invention affords for providing an easy on and off,versatile, and relatively inexpensive apron that fits a wide range ofwaist sizes. Additional features and advantages of various preferredembodiments will be better understood in view of the detaileddescription provided below.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and further features of the present invention will be apparentwith reference to the following description and drawings.

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of an apron according to a firstembodiment of the present invention on a wearer.

FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view of the apron of FIG. 1 .

FIG. 3 is a front perspective view of the apron of FIGS. 1 and 2 showinga towel removably secured to the apron.

FIG. 4 is a front perspective view of the apron of FIGS. 1 and 2 showinga pot holder in the form of an oven mitt configured to be removablysecured to the apron.

FIG. 5 is a front perspective view of an apron according to a secondembodiment of the present invention on a wearer.

FIG. 6 is a rear perspective view of the apron of FIG. 5 , wherein waistband extensions are provided that are not secured together.

FIG. 7 is a rear perspective view of the apron of FIGS. 5 and 6 ,wherein the waist band extensions are secured together for a relativelysmall waist.

FIG. 8 is a rear perspective view of the apron of FIGS. 5 to 7 , whereinthe waist band extensions are secured together for a relatively largewaist.

FIG. 9 is a front perspective view of an apron according to a thirdembodiment of the present invention on a wearer.

FIG. 10 is a front perspective view of the apron of FIG. 9 showing afront upper pocket for a portable electronic device

FIG. 11 is a front perspective view of the apron of FIGS. 9 and 10showing left and right lower pockets.

FIG. 12 is a rear perspective view of the apron of FIGS. 9 to 11 showingthe waist band extensions;

FIG. 13 is a top perspective view of the waist band extensions of theapron of FIGS. 9 to 12 , wherein the waist band extensions are securedtogether by a pair of extenders that are secured together.

FIG. 14 is a top perspective view of the waist band extensions of FIG.13 , wherein the pair of extenders are not secured together.

FIG. 15 is a top perspective view of the waist band extensions of FIGS.13 and 14 , wherein the pair of extenders is removed from the waist bandextensions.

FIG. 16 is a rear view of the towel of FIG. 3 ;

FIG. 17 is an enlarged fragmented view of an upper left corner of thetowel of FIG. 16 ;

FIG. 17A is an enlarged fragmented cross-sectional view taken from line17A-17A of FIG. 17 ;

FIG. 18 is a rear view of a magnet assembly of the towel of FIGS. 16 and17 .

FIG. 19 is a rear view of a pot magnet of the magnet assembly of FIG. 18.

FIG. 20 is a front view of the pot magnet of FIG. 19 .

FIG. 21 is a side view of the pot magnet of FIGS. 19 and 20 .

It should be understood that the appended drawings are not necessarilyto scale, presenting a somewhat simplified representation of variouspreferred features illustrative of the basic principles of theinvention. The specific design features of the aprons as disclosedherein, including, for example, specific dimensions, orientations,locations, and shapes of the various components, will be determined inpart by the particular intended application and use environment. Certainfeatures of the illustrated embodiments have been enlarged or distortedrelative to others to facilitate visualization and clear understanding.In particular, thin features may be thickened, for example, for clarityor illustration. All references to direction and position, unlessotherwise indicated, refer to the orientation of the protective devicesillustrated in the drawings. In general, up or upward generally refersto an upward direction within the plane of the paper in FIG. 1 and downor downward generally refers to a downward direction within the plane ofthe paper in FIG. 1 . Also in general, front or frontward generallyrefers to a direction out of the plane of the paper in FIG. 1 and rearor rearward generally refers to a direction into the plane of the paperin FIG. 1 .

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF CERTAIN PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art, that is, to those whohave knowledge or experience in this area of technology, that many usesand design variations are possible for the clothing covers such asaprons and the like disclosed herein. The following detailed discussionof various alternative and preferred embodiments will illustrate thegeneral principles of the invention with regard to a particular bibstyle apron. Other embodiments suitable for other applications will beapparent to those skilled in the art given the benefit of thisdisclosure such as, for example, an apron.

Referring now to the drawings, FIGS. 1 to 4 show a wearer or user 8wearing a tieless apron 10 according to a first embodiment of thepresent invention. The illustrated tieless apron 10 includes a skirt 12configured to hang down from the waist of the wearer 8, a resilientspring member 14 secured to the skirt 12 and configured to partly extendabout a waist of the wearer 8 to hold the skirt 12 in place on thewearer 8 without any tying strings or straps so that the skirt 12 can beeasily slipped onto and off of the wearer 8, and at least one accessory16 removably secured to the skirt 12. The illustrated at least oneaccessory 16 includes at least one magnet 18 that is removably securedto the resilient spring member 14 by magnetic attraction.

The illustrated skirt 12 has a waist band portion 20 and a main portion22. The waist band portion 20 of the skirt 12 is configured to extendpartly about the waist of the wearer 8. The illustrated waist bandportion 20 extends substantially about the waist of the wearer 8. Thatis, entirely about the waist of the wearer 8 except for a relativelysmall gap at the middle of the back (best shown in FIG. 2 ). It isnoted, however, that the waist band portion 20 can alternatively haveany other suitable configuration such as, for example, the waist bandportion 20 could alternatively extend entirely about the waist of thewearer 8. The main portion 22 of the skirt 12 is configured to hang fromthe waist band portion 20 and cover at least a portion of the front ofthe wearer 8 below their waist. The illustrated main portion 22 hangsdown to a location just below the knees of the wearer 8. It is noted,however, that the main portion 22 can alternatively have any othersuitable configuration such as, for example, the main portion 22 couldhave a larger or smaller length. The illustrated skirt 12 is formed of aflexible material such as, for example, a woven or nonwoven textile likea cloth or fabric and the like. It is noted that the skirt 12 canalternatively have any other suitable configuration.

The illustrated resilient spring member 14 is located within a pocket 24of the waist band portion 20 of the skirt 12 so that the resilientspring member 14 is secured to the skirt 12 at the waist of the wearer8. The illustrated resilient spring member 14 is configured to partlyextend about the waist of the wearer 8 and extends a greater distanceabout the waist of the wearer 8 than the main portion 22 of the skirt 12but preferably not completely around the waist of the wearer 8. Theillustrated resilient spring member 14 is also configured to snugly holdthe skirt 12 in place on the waist of the wearer 8 without any tyingstrings or straps so that the skirt 12 can be easily slipped onto andoff of the wearer 8. Free ends of the resilient spring member 14 at therear of the apron 12 can be grasped and pulled apart and separated sothat the waist of the skirt 12 can be slipped onto the waist of thewearer 8. When the resilient spring member 14 is released, resilientspring member resiliently returns back toward its free or un-deformedshape so that that the resilient spring member 14 resiliently snuglygrips the waist of the wearer 8 to hold the skirt 12 on the waist of thewearer 12. When it is desired to remove the skirt 12 from the wearer 8,the free ends of the resilient spring member 14 can again be grasped andpulled apart and separated so that the waist of the skirt 12 can beslipped off of the waist of the wearer 8. The resilient spring member 14can comprise any suitable resiliently flexible material such as aferromagnetic material including iron, nickel, cobalt, some alloys ofrare earth metals, and the like.

The illustrated apron 10 also includes a bodice or bib 26 located abovethe skirt 12 and extending upward from the skirt 12 at a front of thewearer 8. The illustrated bodice 26 is formed of a suitable flexiblematerial such as, for example, woven or nonwoven fabric and the like.The illustrated bodice 26 is formed of the same flexible material as theskirt 12. The illustrated bodice 26 has boning 28 to provide lightweightsupport for the bodice to give it structure and to maintain its upwardshape without the need for tying strings or straps about the wearer'sneck or shoulders. The illustrated boning 28 is a plurality of laterallyspaced-apart boning rods upwardly extending along the bodice 26. Theplurality of boning rods can be two 10.5″ long plastic boning rods butit is noted that any other suitable quantity, size or type of boning rodcan alternatively be utilized. The boning rods can be secured to thebodice 26 using fabric casings sewn into the bodice fabric or in anyother suitable manner. It is also noted that any other suitable type ofboning 28 can be utilized such as, for example, rigilene boning which iswoven nylon or polyester rods that can be directly sewn into the bodicefabric. The illustrated bodice 26 is also provided with darts 30 so thatthe bodice 26 more closely conforms to the shape of the upper torso ofthe wearer 8. It is noted that the bodice 26 can alternatively have anyother suitable configuration. It is also noted that the bodice or bib 26can alternatively be eliminated so that the wearer 8 is not covered bythe bib 26 above the waist band portion 20.

The at least one accessory 16 can be of any suitable type such as, forexample, the illustrated towel 32 and the illustrated pot holder 34depending on the application or use of the apron 10. For a kitchenapron, the accessory 16 can a potholder 34, a kitchen or dish towel 32,and the like. The kitchen apron and any accessories 16 can be configuredfor commercial or residential use. For a salon apron, the accessory 16can be a salon towel 32, and the like. The salon apron and anyaccessories can be configured for beauty salons, tanning salons, nailsalons, hair salons, day spas, and the like. It is noted that anyquantity and/or type of the accessories 16 can be utilized with theapron 10.

The illustrated towel 32 is formed of a textile such as a woven cloth orfabric or the like and has the at least one magnet 18 sewn therein sothat it is embedded within the towel 32 as described in more detailhereinafter. The towel 32 can be removably secured to the skirt 12 byremovably securing the magnet 18 to the resilient spring member 14 withmagnetic attraction. When it is desired to use the towel 32, the towel32 is pulled by the wearer 8 with enough force to break the magneticattraction and remove the magnet 18 from the resilient spring member 14.When the wearer is finished using the towel 32, the magnet 18 can againbe removably secured to the resilient spring member 14 with magneticattraction to removably secure the towel 32 to the skirt 12. It is notedthat the towel 32 can alternatively have any other suitableconfiguration.

The illustrated pot holder 34 is in the form of an oven mitt and isformed of a textile such as woven cloth or fabric or the like and hasthe at least one magnet 18 sewn therein so that it is embedded withinthe pot holder 34. The pot holder 34 can alternatively have any othersuitable shape such as, for example, square and or can comprise anyother suitable material such as, for example, silicone. The pot holder34 can be removably secured to the skirt 12 by removably securing themagnet 18 to the resilient spring member 14 with magnetic attraction.When it is desired to use the pot holder 34, the pot holder 34 is pulledby the wearer 8 with enough force to break the magnetic attraction toremove the magnet 18 from the resilient spring member 14. When thewearer 8 is finished using the pot holder 34, the magnet 18 can again beremovably secured to the resilient spring member 14 with magneticattraction to removably secure the pot holder 34 to the skirt 12. It isnoted that the pot holder 34 can alternatively have any other suitableconfiguration.

FIGS. 5 to 8 show a user wearing a tieless apron 10 according to asecond embodiment of the present invention. The illustrated tielessapron 10 according to the second embodiment is substantially the same asthe first embodiment of the present invention described above exceptthat a front upper pocket 36 for a portable electronic device 38 such asa smart phone and the like is provided, and waist band extensions 40, 42are provided as described hereinafter.

The illustrated front pocket 36 is centrally located in the lateraldirection at the front of the apron bodice 26 and located below the topof the bodice 26 a distance for easy use of the portable electronicdevice 38. The illustrated front pocket 36 is also sized for easy use ofthe portable electronic device 38. The illustrated front pocket 36 hastop access opening and is sized with a height of about 4.5 inches, awidth of about 6 inches, and is located about 5 to about 8 inches belowthe top of the bodice 26. It is noted that the front pocket 36 canalternatively have any other suitable configuration, size, and/orlocation. The illustrated front pocket 36 is formed of the same materialas the bodice 26 but any other suitable material can alternatively beutilized. The term “portable electronic device” is used in thespecification and claims to mean a handheld electronic device thatutilizes rechargeable batteries as a power source including, but notlimited to, telephones, personal digital assistants (PDAs), mp3 players,video game players, messaging systems, tablet computers, and the like.

The illustrated waist band extensions 40, 42 extend from the free endsof the waist band portion 20 located at the rear of the apron 10 toincrease the size of the waist band portion so that end portions of thewaist band extensions 40, 42 overlap one another when extending roundthe waist of the wearer 8. The illustrated waist band extensions 40, 42are formed of a textile such as cloth or fabric but any other suitablematerial can be utilized. The illustrated waist band extensions 40, 42do not receive the resilient spring member 18 therein so that the waistband extensions 40, 42 are more flexible than the primary portion of thewaist band portion 20 which is supported by the resilient spring member18. The illustrated waist band extensions 40, 42 each have a length ofabout 4.5 inches so that the total length of the waist band portion 20is increased about 9 inches by the waist band extensions 40, 42. It isnoted that the waist band extensions 42 can alternatively have any othersuitable length. The waist band extensions are secured to ends of thewaist band portion 20 by stitching/sewing or the like. The outer side ofthe illustrated left waist band extension 40 is provided with a strip ofhook fastener of a hook and loop fastener 44 such as Velcro. The innerside of the illustrated right waist band extension 42 is provided with astrip of loop fastener 44B of a hook and loop fastener 44 such asVelcro. The strip of hook fastener 44A and the strip of loop fastener44B cooperate to releasably secure the waist band portion 20 in anoverlapping manner about the waist of the wearer when desired such thatthe right waist band extension 42 is secured on top of or outside theleft waist band extension 40. The illustrated strip of hook fastener 44Aand the illustrated strip of loop fastener 44B each have a length ofabout 5 inches so that the total length of the strips about 10 inchesbut any other suitable lengths can alternatively be utilized. It isnoted that the hook and loop fasteners 44 can be reversed if desiredand/or the left waist band extension 40 can alternatively be secured ontop of or outside the right waist band extension 42. Thus, each wearer 8can extend or secure the waist band portion 20 as needed in acomfortable manner so that the apron 12 is secured to their waist. It isnoted that the waist band extensions 40, 42 and/or the hook and loopfasteners 44 can alternatively have any other suitable configuration.

The illustrated waist band extensions 40, 42 increase the range of waistsizes to which the tieless apron 12 can be comfortably worn. Wearershaving an intermediate waist size can secure the apron simply by placingthe resilient spring member about their waist. The waist band extensions40, 42 can be secured or not depending on the preference of the wearer.Wearers having a relatively small waist size, wherein the resilientspring member 14 does not snugly fit their waist, can secure the apron12 by placing the resilient spring member 14 about their waist and thensecuring the waist band extensions 40, 42 snugly about their waist. Thewaist band extensions 40, 42 force the resilient spring member 18 to fitsnugly about the wearer's waist so that the apron 12 does not slidedown. Wearers having a relatively large waist size, wherein theresilient spring member 14 does not extend about their waist a suitableamount to snugly secure the apron 12 about their waist, can secure theapron 12 by placing the resilient spring member 14 about their waist andthen securing the waist band extensions 40, 42 snugly about their waist.The waist band extensions 40, 42 increase the length of the waist bandportion 20 so that it extends about the wearer's waist and does notslide down. Thus, each wearer can extend and/or secure the waist bandportion 20 as needed in a comfortable manner so that the apron 12 issecured to their waist.

FIGS. 9 to 15 show a user 8 wearing a tieless apron according to a thirdembodiment of the present invention. The illustrated tieless apron 12according to the third embodiment is substantially the same as the firstand second embodiments of the present invention described above exceptthat left and right lower pockets 46 are provided and optional waistband extenders 48, 50 are provided for the waist band extensions 40, 42to selectively further increase the length of the waist band portion 20.

The illustrated lower pockets 46 are located toward the left and rightlateral sides of the skirt main portion 22 and located below the waistband portion 20 about midway between the waist band portion 20 and thebottom of the skirt 12 for easy storage of kitchen items, salon items,writing instruments and the like. Each of the illustrated lower pockets46 has a top access opening and is divided into two lateral parts orsides. The illustrated inner side is sized and shaped to hold writinginstruments such as, for example, pens, pencils and the like. It isnoted that the lower pockets 46 can alternatively have any othersuitable configuration, size, and/or location. The illustrated lowerpockets 46 are formed of the same material as the skirt 12 but any othersuitable material can alternatively be utilized.

The illustrated removable waist band extenders 48, 50 selectively extendfrom the free ends of the waist band extensions 40, 42 located at therear of the apron 12 to further increase the size of the waist bandportion 20 so that end portions of the waist band portion 20 overlap oneanother when extending round the waist of the wearer 8. When not needed,the illustrated waist band extenders remain disconnected from the waistband extensions 40, 42 and can be stored in any suitable location untilneeded. The illustrated waist band extenders 48, 50 are in the form of astrip of a textile material such as cloth or fabric but any othersuitable material can be utilized. The illustrated waist band extenders48, 50 do not receive the resilient spring member 14 so that the waistband extenders 48, 50 are more flexible than the primary portion of thewaist band portion 20 which is supported by the resilient spring member14. The illustrated waist band extenders 48, 50 each have a length ofabout 6.5 inches so that the total length of the waist band portion 20can be selectively increased up to about 10 inches by the waist bandextenders 48, 50. It is noted that the waist band extenders 48, 50 canalternatively have any other suitable length. The illustrated waist bandextenders 48, 50 are removably secured to the waist band extensions 40,42 with hook and loop fasteners 44 with are identical and each has oneside provided with a strip of hook fastener 44A of a hook and loopfastener 44 such as Velcro and the other side provided with a strip ofloop fastener 44B of a hook and loop fastener 44 such as Velcro. Thestrip of hook fastener 44A and the strip of loop fastener 44B cooperateto releasably secure the waist band extenders 48, 50 to the waist bandextensions 40, 42 and also to releasably secure the waist band extenders48, 50 in an overlapping manner about the waist of the wearer 8 whendesired.

The illustrated waist band extenders 48, 50 increase the range of waistsizes to which the tieless apron 12 can be comfortably worn beyond sizesof the spring member 14 with just the waist band extensions 40, 42.Wearers having a relatively extra small waist size, wherein theresilient spring member 14 does not snugly fit their waist, can securethe apron 12 by placing the resilient spring member 14 about their waistand then securing the waist band extenders 48, 50 snugly about theirwaist. Wearers having a larger waist size, wherein the resilient springmember 14 and the waist extensions 40, 42 do not extend about theirwaist a suitable amount to snugly secure the apron 12 about their waist,can secure the apron by first securing the waist band extenders 48, 50to the waist band extensions 40, 42, then placing the resilient springmember 14 about their waist, and securing the waist band extenders 48,50 snugly about their waist. The waist band extenders 48, 50 furtherincrease the length of the waist band portion 20 so that the waist bandportion 20 extends about the wearer's waist and does not slide down.Preferably the spring member 14 with the waist extensions 40, 42 andselectively the waist extenders 48, 50 can accommodate a wide range ofsizes from about size 0 to about size 24. Each wearer can extend orsecure the waist band portion 20 as needed in a comfortable manner sothat the apron 12 is secured to their waist. Thus, the single apron canaccommodate essentially all sizes.

FIGS. 16 to 21 show the towel 32 according to the present inventionwhich can be magnetically secured to the apron 12 of the presentinvention by removably securing the at least one magnet 18 of the towel32 to the spring member 14 of the apron 12. The illustrated towel 32comprises panel of textile material 52 such as cloth or fabric and hasexterior edges stitched with thread to reduce fraying of the exterioredges but any other suitable configuration can alternatively beutilized. The illustrated panel of textile 52 is rectangular shaped butany other suitable shape can alternatively utilized such as, forexample, square. The illustrated towel 32 can be configured as a kitchenor dish towel having a width of about 10 to about 20 inches and a lengthof about 18 to about 30 inches, or a salon towel having a width of about12 to about 18 inches and a length of about 24 to about 30 inches. It isnoted that the kitchen and spa towels 32 can alternatively have anyother suitable size. It is also noted that the towel 32 canalternatively be of any other suitable type of towel such as, forexample, a hand towel, a wash cloth, a bar towel, a gym towel, a golf orother sports towel, and the like.

The illustrated towel 32 is provided with two spaced-apart magnetassemblies 54 each having one of the permanent magnets 18. Theillustrated magnet assemblies 54 are secured in opposite corners of therectangular shaped panel of textile 52. More specifically, theillustrated magnet assemblies 54 are secured in the upper left cornerand the lower right corner of the panel of textile 52 respectively butany other suitable locations can alternatively be utilized. Eachpermanent magnet 18 can be individually used to removably secure thetowel 32 to the spring member 14 of the apron 12 and can be used toremovably connect the two magnets assemblies 54 together so that thepermanent magnets 14 do not attach to a drum of a washing machine ordryer which may prevent desired tumbling of the towel 32 during awashing and/or drying cycle. The illustrated magnet assemblies 54 areeach secured to the rear side of the panel of textile 52 with a textilecover 56 in the form of a piece of textile sewn with thread to the panelof textile 52 about the exterior edges of the textile cover 56 with themagnet assembly 54 secured therebetween in an interior space or cavity58 formed between the textile cover 56 and the panel of textile 52. Themagnet assemblies 54 can alternatively be secured to the panel oftextile 52 in any other suitable manner. The illustrated textile cover56 is square shaped but any other suitable shape and/or material canalternatively be utilized. The illustrated components are sized suchthat the permanent magnet 14 is restricted from flipping over within theinterior cavity 58 formed between the panel of textile 52 and textilecover 56.

The illustrated magnet assembly 54 includes the magnet 14, a pot or cup60 which together with the magnet 14 forms a pot or cup magnet, and aseal member 62 which surrounds the magnet 14 and the cup 60 in awater-tight manner to prevent moisture from contacting the magnet 14 andthe cup 60. The illustrated magnets 14 are neodymium magnets but anyother suitable type can alternatively be utilized. The illustratedmagnets 14 have a suitable magnetic strength to removably secure thetowel 32 and the spring member 14 together as described herein. Theillustrated magnets 14 are disc shaped having planar inner and outersurfaces. It is noted that the magnets 14 can alternatively have anyother suitable shape. The illustrated disc-shaped magnets 14 preferablyhave a diameter in the range of about ⅛ inches to about ⅜ inches andmore preferably a diameter of about ¼ inches, and a thickness preferablyin the range of about 1/32 inches to ¼ inches and more preferably athickness of about ⅛ inches. The magnets 14 are each embedded into thesteel pot or cup 60 to increase the magnetic attraction/repulsion forcesin one direction outward from an open end of the pot 60. Note that themagnetic attraction/repulsion forces in the opposite direction (into thepot) are negligible. The illustrated seal member 62 is formed by a pairof plastic sheets which are on opposite sides of the pot magnet 14 andheat sealed or staked together about their exterior edges to form asealed interior cavity 64 for the pot magnet 14 to prevent the entry ofmoisture. The illustrated seal member 62 has a square shape and is sizedto be closely received in the square-shaped cavity 58 between the panelof textile 52 and the textile cover 56 to substantially limit movementof the magnet assembly 54 within the cavity 58 and prevent flipping ofthe magnet assembly 54 within the cavity 58. It is noted that the sealmember 62 can alternatively have any other suitable configuration suchas a polymer coating or covering or the like.

The illustrated pot or cup magnets 14 are configured to have aunidirectional magnetic force. That is, a magnetic force in only onedirection. In the illustrated embodiment, both of the pot or cup magnets14 are directed in the same direction. Both illustrated pot or cupmagnets 14 face the rearward direction so that only the rearward side ofthe magnet/towel 32 will magnetically attach to a ferromagneticmaterial. Additionally, the illustrated pot or cup magnets 14 areconfigured so that the rearward sides of the two pot magnets 14 aremagnetically attracted to each other so that they can be selectivelysecured or attached to each other. For example, one magnet 14 can have arearward facing north pole while the other magnet 14 has a rearwardfacing south pole. Configured in this manner, the pot magnets 14 can betemporarily attached together for laundering, for attachment to a railor pole, etc. and when attached together the opposite sides of the potmagnets 14 will not be attracted to any other ferromagnetic materialsurfaces such, as for example, a laundry machine drum.

Any of the features or attributes of the above described embodiments andvariations can be used in combination with any of the other features andattributes of the above described embodiments and variations as desired.

It is apparent from the above detailed description of preferredembodiments of the present invention, that the above-disclosed apron canbe easily slipped onto and off of the wearer without the difficultyand/or aggravation of tying strings around the waist and/or neck and canalso be utilized to temporarily hold accessories such as, for example,towels, pot holders, and the like for quick access during use of theapron.

From the foregoing disclosure and detailed description of certainpreferred embodiments, it is also apparent that various modifications,additions and other alternative embodiments are possible withoutdeparting from the true scope and spirit of the present invention. Theembodiments discussed were chosen and described to provide the bestillustration of the principles of the present invention and itspractical application to thereby enable one of ordinary skill in the artto utilize the invention in various embodiments and with variousmodifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. All suchmodifications and variations are within the scope of the presentinvention as determined by the appended claims when interpreted inaccordance with the benefit to which they are fairly, legally, andequitably entitled.

1-20. (canceled)
 21. An apron for a wearer having a front and a waist,the apron comprising, in combination: a skirt configured to hang downfrom the waist of a the wearer; a resilient spring member secured to theskirt and configured to partly extend about a the waist of the wearer tohold the skirt in place at the waist of the wearer; wherein theresilient spring member comprises a ferromagnetic material; at least oneaccessory removably secured to the skirt; and wherein the at least oneaccessory has two spaced-apart magnets that selectively secure the atleast one accessory to the resilient spring member by magneticattraction to selectively secure the at least one accessory to the skirtand are each configured to magnetically attract to each other toselectively secure the two spaced-apart magnets together.
 22. The apronaccording to claim 21, further comprising a self-supporting bodiceextending upward from the skirt at a the front of the wearer.
 23. Theapron according to claim 22, further comprising a front pocket locatedon a front of the bodice that is sized and located for holding aportable electronic device.
 24. The apron according to claim 21, whereinthere is a plurality of the accessories removably secured to the skirt.25. The apron according to claim 21, wherein the at least one accessoryis a towel.
 26. The apron according to claim 21, wherein each of the twomagnets are pot magnets.
 27. The apron according to claim 26, whereineach of the two pot magnets face in the same direction.
 28. The apronaccording to claim 27, wherein the two pot magnets are located nearopposite ends of the accessory.
 29. The apron according to claim 27,wherein the accessory is rectangular shaped and the two pot magnets arelocated near opposite corners of the accessory.
 30. The apron accordingto claim 26, wherein each of the two pot magnets is sealed to preventmoisture from contacting the pot magnet.
 31. The apron according toclaim 30 wherein each of the two pot magnets is located within a sealedinterior cavity of a plastic seal member to prevent moisture fromcontacting the pot magnet.
 32. The apron according to claim 26, whereineach of the two pot magnets is secured to the accessory by a textilecover secured to the accessory with the pot magnet located between theaccessory and the textile cover.
 33. The apron according to claim 21,wherein each of the two magnets face in the same direction on theaccessory.
 34. The apron according to claim 33, wherein the two magnetsare located near opposite ends of the accessory.
 35. The apron accordingto claim 34, wherein the accessory is rectangular shaped and the twomagnets are located near opposite corners of the accessory.
 36. Theapron according to claim 21, wherein each of the two magnets is sealedto prevent moisture from contacting the magnet.
 37. The apron accordingto claim 36, wherein each of the two magnets is located within a sealedinterior cavity of a plastic seal member to prevent moisture fromcontacting the magnet.
 38. The apron according to claim 37, wherein eachof the two magnets is secured to the accessory by a textile coversecured to the accessory with the magnet and the plastic seal memberboth located between the accessory and the textile cover.
 39. The apronaccording to claim 21, wherein each of the two magnets is secured to theaccessory by a textile cover secured to the accessory with the magnetlocated between the accessory and the textile cover.